Revision superpowers
When I was a kid, I read a lot of DC superhero comics — Superman leaping tall buildings with a single bound, Batman with his masked identity, The Flash with his speed, Wonder Woman with her Amazon strength and magical accessories.
I’m currently revising a set of two novels. Revision is the least fun part of writing for me. Basically, I hate it. So sometimes I wish I had a set of Revision Superpowers:
X-ray vision
Even when we know something is a rough draft, the words assume a stubborn permanence once they’re on paper. How do we make ourselves view our manuscripts as critical outside observers? How do we get beyond what is to what could be? X-ray vision would let us see through the black ink on the page to the better novel hidden within — to find fresher and more precise language, tighter plot lines, and undeveloped themes.
Flight
Flying would let us hover at 10,000 feet and see our manuscript as a whole — its structure, flow, and themes. The cliché is that we get stuck “in the weeds,” but it’s less like being in ankle-high weeds than being in a 10-foot high cornfield. You spend days tinkering with a handful of words on a single page when you should be reshaping the work as a whole. It’s hard to hold 300 to 400 pages in your field of vision from ground level. Up, up and away!
Laser beams
I don’t care if they shoot out of my fingertips or if I have to pull a weapon out of my utility belt. But I’d like a super-sharp beam to slice away cliches and unnecessary, qualifying language. Burn away all those instances of “suddenly” and “somewhat” and “seemed to.”
Super hearing
Does the dialogue work? Does the writing flow smoothly? Reading passages out loud can help assess that, and you don’t need super hearing to do it
Speed
When I recently needed to rename a character, I realized we have one kind of super-speed already: It’s called Search and Replace. But in a larger sense, I wish we could tear through the overall revision process like The Flash, making it a matter of weeks rather than months or years. We can’t. It sucks. Live with it.
Sidekicks
Robin saved the day when Batman was trapped. His trusty butler Alfred made sure he had a hot meal after a bout of crimefighting. Turn to beta readers for help when you need a new perspective on your manuscript. And have an Alfred or two in your life who can nourish you and cheer you on.
Magic bracelets
Superheroes don’t hide in bunkers. You’ve got to be open to criticism of your work, even if it feels like incoming missiles. But self-doubt and self-loathing aren’t helpful. Wonder Woman used her magic bracelets to deflect gunfire; we need them to deflect those internal bullets that scream,“You’re a miserable failure, you’ll never be any good at this, go back to writing Facebook posts about your cat.”
Secret identity
Mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent didn’t have the strength to lift mountains. But in his Superman alter ego, he did it all the time. Much of the work of revision seems impossible — eliminating big chunks of plot, replacing characters, even reconsidering the premise of your story. When you feel daunted and powerless against the heavy lifting of revision, it’s time to assume the secret identity that allows you to Do Anything. Put on the lycra tights and flowing cape — cue the trumpets or drums– it’s Super Revision Writer!
What else? Are there other Revision Superpowers you wish you had? Or that you already possess and are putting to good use? Tell us about the gadgets and vehicles in your Revision Batcave.
